Our favorite apple orchard is Oriole Springs in Twin Lakes, WI. We love going here every fall with the kids. It truly is all about apple picking. If you are looking for games, rides, and other amusements, this is not the place for you.
We love it and don't have to worry about the kids being distracted or tempted by other "amusement attractions".
Oriole Springs Orchard
35032 128th Street
Twin Lakes, WI 53181
(262) 877-2436
They are open Tuesday - Sunday 9:00 - 5:30 pm.
Call for the picking schedule
You can buy a peck for $12 or a half-bushel for $20. No entrance fee.
Directions
To get there, take 94 West north to Rte 173 (Rosecrans Rd). Head west on 173, go through Antioch. Go past Wilmot Rd and turn right on Siedschlag Rd. Take that until it deadends and turn left on 128th St/State Line road. (This is the Wisconsin - Illinois border.) It takes about an hour to get there.
Harvest Time
Just down the road is another orchard called Harvest Time. (It also has apple picking, but we've always gone to Oriole for apple picking.) We DO go to Harvest Time because they have a barn that sells great Wisconsin cheese, summer sausage, apple cider, and amazing fresh baked doughnuts.
Harvest Time DOES have a website that outlines their picking schedule and other offerings.
Note - their picking schedule is different than Oriole Springs.
***Note - We went in 2015 and they were closed Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday.
***Note - We went in 2015 and they were closed Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday.
Their picking schedule
Feedback
Here are some people's comments about Oriole Springs (and some more info that people have written.)
Fall Festival at Stades Farm & Market
Family friendly outdoor fun - good for little kids. There are a number of free attractions, as well as some rides and attractions that require tickets. We went for the first time in 2011 and loved it. We'll definitely be going back next year. It is a bit pricey, but when we go, we spend HOURS there and try to milk it for all its worth!
* Veggie Cars
* Giant sandbox filled with corn
* Spider Web Climb
* The World's Largest Combine Replica - Frank
* Slide Mountain
* Petting Zoo with Goat Bridge
* Our Famous Pumpkin Cannon
* U-Pick Pumpkins
(free hayride to and from the patch)
* Corn Maze
* Corn Cannons
* Pedal Cars
* Bovine Befuddlement Maze
* Barrel Train
* Frank the Combine
* Giant Bale Maze
* Homemade Apple Cider Donuts
Website - http://www.shadesofautumn.net/home.php
Saturdays and Sundays (check website for dates) 10:00 - 6:00 pm\
Also open Fridays in October and on Columbus Day
$15/person
Flashlight Walk
http://homewithlindsay.blogspot.com/2011/10/fall-flashlight-walk.html
Richardson Adventure Farm and Corn Maze
We haven't been to this yet so I can't tell you first hand if it's worth the drive and $ or not.
We're planning to go when the kids get a little older.
Website - http://www.richardsonadventurefarm.com/
Location
9407 Richardson Rd Spring Grove, IL
Cost
Ages 13 and up - $12.95
Ages 4 - 12 - $9.95
Kids 3 and under - free
Includes admission to the maze, observation tower, pedal bikes, pedal trikes, 50' tube slide, and much more.
Pumpkins, food, zip line, wagon rides, and ORBiting available for an additional fee.
